The U.S. State Department released its final supplemental environmental impact statement on the proposed Keystone XL pipeline on Friday, January 31, 2014. Contrary to the impression given in some media stories, this is not the end of the decision-making process. Further steps include a recommendation by the Secretary of State and review by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency before a final decision by President Obama.

The Delta Chapter of the Sierra Club in Louisiana has joined the national Sierra Club and many other groups, communities, and individuals in opposing construction of the pipeline. The decision on the Keystone XL pipeline represents a historic opportunity for the US to show leadership on moving away from dependence on dirty fossil fuels toward a clean energy economy.

Tar sands remain one of the dirtiest and most expensive sources from which to extract petroleum, with serious impacts on the local environment in Canada, in addition to the wider climate impacts of their expanded production. The new report downplays the project’s emissions, stating that “The proposed Project would emit approximately 0.24 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalents (MMTCO2e) per year during the construction period… During operations, approximately 1.44 MMTCO2e would be emitted per year… equivalent to GHG emissions from approximately 300,000 passenger vehicles operating for 1 year, or 71,928 homes using electricity for 1 year.” (Page ES-15)

The draft EIS released in April stated that “annual C02e emissions from the proposed Project [construction and operation] is equivalent to C02e emissions from approximately 626,000 passenger vehicles operating for one year or 398,000 homes using electricity for one year.” (p. ES-15)

We face a global challenge of reducing carbon emissions enough to slow the process of global warming. Offsetting the emissions from expanded production of the tar sands oil adds tremendously to that challenge.

Most of Louisiana’s Congressional delegation has supported the pipeline because of its purported economic benefits, but the state should not ignore the climate impacts, since we remain one of the areas of the U.S. most vulnerable to increased sea-level rise, and have in fact been feeling the effects of that process already. Some of Louisiana’s representatives have been fighting the EPA’s attempts to limit coal-plant emissions just as hard as they have been promoting the Keystone Pipeline. This indicates a lack of contact with the reality of what is to come for Louisiana if no real action is taken to limit greenhouse gas emissions.

Delta Chapter on Facebook

Local Groups in Louisiana

Get Outdoors!

The Delta Chapter is 3,000 of your neighbors supporting the work of the Sierra Club in Louisiana. We advance the cause of protecting Louisiana's environment in a variety of ways, including lobbying the state legislature in Baton Rouge, sponsoring a Mercury Public Education Campaign, raising public awareness about climate change, and working to keep the Atchafalaya Basin, America's greatest river swamp, wet and wild. We also encourage our members to get outside and enjoy our beautiful planet. This was one of the original purposes of the Sierra Club.

The Sierra Club's members and supporters are more than 1.3 million of your friends and neighbors. Inspired by nature, we work together to protect our communities and the planet. The Club is America's oldest, largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization.